Very Early Pre M25

[sandwtrader]

Just picked up a very nice specimen of a .45 Cal Model of 1955 or Pre-Model 25. SN# S143201, bright blue finish, all target, 5" barrel, 98% condition. I think the 5" is difficult to find (Rare?). Another hole filled!
Hope the pics come out OK.
L Slaten in AZ

Uups: Photos too big. 2.7mb. Have to fix. Sorry

 

[rck281]

Get a factory letter! The 5" Pre-M25s are very rare and worth a lot o money.

 

[bmg60]

Hi Larry
if your ship date comes back 1959 it one of 9 shipped with mine.
jim fisher

 

[Art Doc]

That serial would be 1955 unless it shipped way out of numerical sequence. A 5" 1955 would be extremely rare and valuable if original. I would not pay the price for a 5" 1955 unless the documentation proving authenticity came with it.

 

[bmg60]

hi
the serial numbers for these rare guns were way out of normal shipping order. Mine pictured above was shipped in 1959 with 8 others and it is serial number S-1598XX which in normal shipping it would have been a 1955 gun. There were 8 1950 5 inch targets shipped august 8 1960 to H.H. Harris and these were all in the S-1465xx range.
so as you see serial numbers do not indicate a normal shipping.
hope this information helps.
for your information there are only 8 1955 5 screw models documented.
and one 1955 3 screw marked 25-1 and then over marked -2 and it shipped in June 8 1962 and it is Serial number S-2277XX.
I own one of the 1955 5 inch 5 screws and one of the 1950 5 inch model 26 targets
and I own the 1955 3 screw in 5 inch.
Jim Fisher

 

[JSR III]

Just to add to the S&W serial number fascination, my 1955 .45 Target with a 6.5" barrel, serial number S1594XX shipped on 2/1958.

 

[usedkid]

Larry,
Roy's reply below:

"Pre-Model 25 serial number S143201 was shipped in September 1958. From the shipping logs I cannot tell if it is a 5 inch. I would have to have the museum find the original invoice. This is the best I can do for now. Roy"

 

[fat tom]

Bummer.
f.t.

 

[Dave T]

Even if it's cut down, I would jump on a 5" just because it is my preferred barrel length for the N-frame Smiths.

To the OP, if you're dis-appointed with it if it turns out to be cut let me know. Since I'm in AZ too, I'd at least like to get a look at it. (smile)

Dave

 

[29-1]

hi
the serial numbers for these rare guns were way out of normal shipping order. Mine pictured above was shipped in 1959 with 8 others and it is serial number S-1598XX which in normal shipping it would have been a 1955 gun. There were 8 1950 5 inch targets shipped august 8 1960 to H.H. Harris and these were all in the S-1465xx range.
so as you see serial numbers do not indicate a normal shipping.
hope this information helps.
for your information there are only 8 1955 5 screw models documented.
and one 1955 3 screw marked 25-1 and then over marked -2 and it shipped in June 8 1962 and it is Serial number S-2277XX.
I own one of the 1955 5 inch 5 screws and one of the 1950 5 inch model 26 targets
and I own the 1955 3 screw in 5 inch.
Jim Fisher

Here's one of the first 4 shipped on 5 March, 1955. It was taken to Florida by Fred Miller for S&W president Carl Helstrom to present to the top shooters in the S&W sponsored Center Fire Pistol competition at the Mid-Winter Nationals in Tampa, Fl. Jim Clark won the Master Class example. See this link for the rest of the story on these trophy revolvers. http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...target-45-pictures-1958-trophy-gun-added.html
Chuck

 

[JSR III]

Chuck,

Did you buy that gun at the Big E gun show a while back??

 

[29-1]

Jim, I've owned this gun for several years now. Not too sure where the collector I acquired it from got it. I think it was around Springfield though.
Chuck